New Straits Times 9 Jul 14;
KEMAMAN: A police report has been lodged after an endangered Green Turtle was found brutally killed and tens of its immature eggs scattered in a leased turtle nesting area of the Kijal beach near here.
Terengganu Fisheries Department director Abdul Khalil Abdul Karim said today the report was made after the lease-holder found the dead turtle at about 11 pm last Monday.
"We believe it to be the work of an irresponsible individual who had ambushed the turtle as it came ashore to nest. The person senselessly slashed the turtle to get at the eggs," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Abdul Khalil said the lease-holder had noticed a Green Turtle coming ashore and had kept watch from afar to wait for it to lay its eggs.
However, after more than 30 minutes, the lease-holder was surprised to find that the turtle did not return to sea and checked only to find that the reptile was dead.
"A closer examination showed that the carapace had been hacked and the immature eggs were scattered all over the sand," he said.
Abdul Khalil said the inhumane act reflected the greed of some people who would go to the extent of killing the innocent animals which were protected under the Fisheries Act to fulfil their objective.
The Fisheries Act provides for a fine of up to RM3,000 or a maximum jail term of three months, or both, for offences of this nature, he said.
Abdul Khalil said this was the third incident of its kind in Terengganu, the first having occurred in 2005 in Geliga, Kemaman, and the second in 2007 on Redang Island. - Bernama
